D.C. Police Stops - Rules of Engagement With Five-Oh

SOURCE: www.blackvoices.com

Yeah, I was afraid it would come to this.

Looks like all the prediction about things getting so bad in the street that people begin to accept the diminishing of civil liberties is coming true, and the beginning point is in our nation's capital of all places.

Washington D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier announced the advent of military-style checkpoints in the Trinidad area of the city. This means the police can stop you, ask you why you're there and if you don't have any business in the area, they will turn you back. The neighborhood has been so beset with crime and violence that the chief and Mayor Adrian Fenty were put under pressure to do something about it and do it quick. ...

D.C. Police Stops

D.C. police stop a vehicle at a checkpoint in the Trinidad neighborhood Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Washington. Recent violence in the neighborhood prompted police to create a Neighborhood Safety Zone to make sure people have legitimate reasons to be there.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Washington D.C. City Mayor Adrian M. Fenty speaks during a news conference about the checkpoint in the Trinidad neighborhood Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Washington. Recent violence in the neighborhood prompted police to create a Neighborhood Safety Zone to make sure people have legitimate reasons to be there.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Washington D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier speaks during a news conference about the police checkpoint in the Trinidad neighborhood as DC City Mayor Adrian M. Fenty looks on Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Washington.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Residents watch a police checkpoint in the Trinidad neighborhood of Washington on Saturday, June 7, 2008. Recent violence in the neighborhood prompted police to create a Neighborhood Safety Zone to make sure people have legitimate reasons to be there.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

D.C. police stop a vehicle at a checkpoint in the Trinidad neighborhood Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Washington.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Residents Daniel and Ludwin Rubio play soccer on the sidewalk as D.C. police stop a vehicle at a checkpoint in the Trinidad neighborhood Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Washington.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Residents walk past a police checkpoint in the Trinidad neighborhood of Washington on Saturday, June 7, 2008.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

The McAnnar family watches D.C. police stop a vehicle at a checkpoint in front of their home in the Trinidad neighborhood Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Washington.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

D.C. police stop a vehicle at a checkpoint in the Trinidad neighborhood Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Washington.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

D.C. police stop a vehicle at a checkpoint in the Trinidad neighborhood Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Washington.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana


Well, this was their response, and civil rights groups are apalled. In fact, they're pissed because this is clearly a violation of several parts of the U.S. constitution that have to do with personal freedoms.

But last weekend D.C. saw seven homicides including three in Trinidad. So you have the community screaming "please do something about this" but the community is also screaming "how dare you trample on our civil rights."

Once again, our community has painted itself into a corner believing that problems can be solved by underfunded and over-bureaucratized government agencies.

It all follows a formula, actually. People are shocked by murders in their neighborhoods; the tragedies are all on the news; community groups scream that politicians aren't doing enough to protect the citizenry; politicians respond by doing everything from passing pointless ordinances to instituting draconian laws; community groups scream that their rights are being trampled on.

Haven't weguys seen this movie enough times? Seen it, been there, done that, got the t-shirt, the bootleg DVD and the souvenir key chain.

The ironic part is that, according to FBI statistics, murders have been following a downward trend in D.C. over much of the past two decades. In 1991, killings peaked at 482; in 2000, they were at 239; in 2006 (the most recent year for which stats were available); they were down to 169, the lowest since 1985.

This follows a nationwide trend in decreasing violent crime nationwide, but increasing murder rates among black males -- a 52 percent increase between 2002 and 2006. This shows us one thing: it's not the government, white people, or rap music that is screwing up: it's us!

Is instituting checkpoints the answer? Maybe, but it's only a Band-Aid on an ax wound. Even if they do get crime down in Trinidad, it might move over to Ivy City or Carver Langston. Police can only do so much, it is up to individuals to police their own children. Right now, we expect every social entity to coddle and cater to us as if we're perpetually dysfunctional and incapable of doing it ourselves. It's time to man-up.

Bottom line, it's time to hold black men accountable for riding the straight and narrow path, becoming self-reliant, and grasping some human dignity. Everybody wants to talk about Malcolm X, well this is what he preached.

You want to decrease crime among black males in D.C and in other cities and stop the trend toward instituting martial law in our neighborhoods? Hey, the solution starts within --on your block, in your house, with your kids.

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With all the above said, we've still got to deal with police presence in our communities, so below are some important tidbits on working with cops instead of provoking more mess between black folks and the cops.

You do have rights and it's important to know them, particularly your Miranda Rights, which prevent you from unwittingly incriminating yourself just by talking. In fact, one of the most important things you can do is shut the hell up.

Here are some important tips offered by 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care.

You Can Be Stopped If ...
+ You are running and a crime has just been reported in the area.
+ You are hanging around with some people who are under police investigation.
+ An officer stops you walking and you refuse to answer simple questions.
+ You begin to bad-mouth an officer.

Rules to Follow If Police Approach You ...
+ Do not become loud.
+ Keep some government-issued identification on you at all times.
+ Be quiet and remain calm.
+ You have the right to have an attorney present.

If You Are Stopped in Your Car ...
+ Give the officer your identification when he/she asks for it.
+ Don't make any sudden movements.
+ Put your hands on the steering wheel.
+ Turn on your interior dome light.

Check out this link for more tips on what to do when engaged by the police. You can also print out this information to keep, courtesy of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Remember, it's best to be armed with knowledge than any other weapon.